Independiente Medellin are through to the semi finals of the Colombian Liga Postobon, following an extremely hard-fought win over Atletico Huila.
In a repeat of last year’s final, it was Huila to take the lead through Ricardo Laborde in the 42nd minute.
Luis Arias levelled four minutes after the break but Laborde got his second to restore the away side’s lead on 64 minutes.
Medellin still had some energy left in the final phase however and Tressor Moreno equalised in the 86th minute. Not much later, Huila thought to have scored for 2-3 but their goal was controversially disallowed for off-side.
There would be a winning goal, but it was scored by the home side in the seventh minute of added time as John Restrepo powered home from a free kick. Huila’s Carlos Carbonera had been given his second yellow card for the foul that caused the set-piece.
With 33 points and just one game to go, Medellin are now certain of a spot in the next round.
La Equidad moved into fourth place with a 2-1 win over Atletico Nacional who themselves are no longer in contention. Renzo Sheput and Carlos Renteria scored for the hosts, while Giovanni Moreno provided Nacional’s only goal.
Only 18 players were left on the pitch at the final whistle as Jherson Cordoba and Hugo Soto (La Equidad) as well as Nacional’s Stalin Motta and Gaston Pezzuti were sent off.
In other games played on Saturday Envigado beat Quindio 2-0, Deportivo Cali won 1-3 at Deportivo Pereira and the match between Cortulua and Cucuta ended 0-0.
